Homo Sapiens

Kalaqua Island.

Inside Area D of the research base.

Chen Jianxiong, who had rushed over from the headquarters in Dart Port, followed Phil into a highly secretive area within the Homo Sapiens Company.

As the head of the Security Department, Chen Jianxiong had known a few things about the research base before. However, with the establishment of the Internal Affairs Department, the responsibility for security on Kalaqua Island and for Li Qingye himself had been taken over by them.

In Chen Jianxiong’s view, the functions of the Security Department and the Internal Affairs Department overlapped significantly. It was a complete waste of resources.

Furthermore, looking at the internal structures of other corporations, there was no need for both an Internal Affairs and a Security Department. They could easily be consolidated into lower-level divisions.

This was another way the Homo Sapiens Company differed from other businesses. Few corporations bothered to set up such departments, mainly because they served little purpose.

Just as Chen Jianxiong’s mind was wandering, the two of them arrived before Li Qingye.

This was a small office in Area D of the research base. The furnishings were simple and clear: a tea table, five wooden chairs, and a large bookcase.

”You’re here. Have a seat.”

”Yes, Boss.”

”Thank you, Boss.”

Phil and Chen Jianxiong both sat down, their postures ramrod straight and formal.

Steam wafted from the kettle on the tea table. Li Qingye placed a pinch of Longjing tea into a teapot, poured in hot water, and a delicate fragrance filled the air.

After pouring tea into their cups, Li Qingye leaned back in his wooden chair, his gaze as calm as still water. ”Jianxiong, do you know why I called you here?”

Chen Jianxiong’s mind raced. ’I don’t think I’ve neglected my duties at all over the past year or so.’ Confused, he shook his head. ”Boss, I don’t know.”

”People’s hearts can change.” Li Qingye took another sip of Longjing tea and said slowly, ”My father once taught me a lesson with his own life: if you’re not ruthless, you can’t stand firm.”

’What?’ Chen Jianxiong grew even more confused. He couldn’t grasp Li Qingye’s intentions and could only wrack his brain, trying to understand.

But Li Qingye continued, ”Greed is human nature. Once you have ten thousand, you want a million. Once you have a million, you want a hundred million. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that.”

”In this materialistic age, many people dream of getting rich overnight and will often stop at nothing to achieve it. To them, as long as they succeed, the despicable and shameless methods they used to get there don’t matter.”

GULP. Chen Jianxiong finally understood the implication, and beads of sweat involuntarily formed on his forehead.

”Jianxiong, do you know what I admire most about Fang Xincheng?”

”Heh, I don’t know,” Chen Jianxiong replied with a dry laugh.

Li Qingye’s eyes were utterly cold as he said softly, ”After being worn down by life and work for over a decade, he’s still as earnest as a teenager. A person like that is a fool, but he’s also a warrior.”

Chen Jianxiong fell silent.

”In this heartless world, it’s not easy to live with such deep feeling, wouldn’t you agree?”

”You’re right, Boss.” Chen Jianxiong became even more cautious.

Li Qingye stared into his eyes. ”The company will get better and better, but it will also become more and more dangerous. Are you confident?”

Faced with this sudden choice, Chen Jianxiong was thrown for a loop. But he quickly sank into thought, his heart torn between a deep-seated fear of Li Qingye and his own desire for a future and for money.

This was clearly a choice Li Qingye was giving him, and Chen Jianxiong was wracked with indecision.

After taking a sip of the Longjing tea, he tasted a bitter flavor filling his mouth.

He had once been like Fang Xincheng, thinking life was like an amla fruit—bitter at first, then sweet. But he never expected reality to be nothing but the bitterness of coptis root.

His age was a factor, and all he knew was fighting and killing. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have jumped from the Xiangjiang police force to his previous security company.

He clenched his fists and replied, ”Boss, I am confident.”

”Even if it costs you everything?” Li Qingye retorted.

Chen Jianxiong had already crossed that mental hurdle. It was like the sunk cost fallacy; he had come this far, so he knew it was time to pledge his loyalty. ”I don’t want my family to keep suffering. As long as they aren’t harmed, I’m willing to give everything.”

”I hope you won’t regret it.” Li Qingye actually rather admired Chen Jianxiong.

If the man had been willing to abandon even his family, it would have proved he had no bottom line. Such a person could never be used; he might just backstab you one day.

Chen Jianxiong grew a little emotional. ”If I can’t get ahead, if I can’t give my family a good life, I think I would regret that even more.”

”You must have guessed that the company has some secrets. I can tell you plainly, it does.” Li Qingye poured him another cup of tea and continued:

”In the future, as the company expands globally, we may encounter all sorts of dangers and enemies. The risks and rewards are commensurate. I need people I can trust to do things for me. Do you understand?”

Chen Jianxiong nodded quickly. ”I understand. I will be loyal to the company and to you, Boss.”

But Li Qingye wagged a finger. ”No, you don’t understand. Loyalty can’t be guaranteed with words.”

”This...” Faced with this, Chen Jianxiong was speechless for a moment.

It was just as Li Qingye said; loyalty was a difficult thing to guarantee.

Li Qingye’s gaze was perfectly calm. ”I can give you wealth, status, and resources, but you must repay me with absolute loyalty. Are you willing to accept this exchange?”

”I... I am willing,” Chen Jianxiong agreed through gritted teeth.

”Excellent. Then come with me.”

With that, Li Qingye stood up and walked toward the core area of the research base.

Phil also stood and immediately followed.

Chen Jianxiong hesitated for a moment, but his resolve quickly hardened, and he followed as well. As he did, he glanced at the silent Phil beside him, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He had clearly noticed something was off about Phil.

During the entire conversation, Li Qingye had been speaking only to him, yet Phil had shown no reaction at all.

’In such a highly confidential discussion, any other participant must be the boss’s most trusted subordinate. That means Phil is one of the boss’s confidants.’

Chen Jianxiong followed behind Li Qingye, his mind churning with questions the entire way.

He had always been wary of Phil, the man who had carved away a part of the Security Department’s power. But the man was like a stubborn mule—obstinate and unpleasant.

On the surface, the Internal Affairs Department was responsible for Li Qingye’s daily affairs, but in reality, its purview also included security and both internal and external intelligence.

Currently, all security personnel on Kalaqua Island were managed by the Internal Affairs Department, leaving Chen Jianxiong’s Security Department with nothing to do.

Now, everything was starting to make sense.

’The Security Department was split and the Internal Affairs Department was created because the boss didn’t trust me back then.’

’This conversation with the boss seems to signal that he’s about to give me a major role.’

At the same time, Chen Jianxiong was intensely curious about the base’s classified area. He had been speculating about its secrets for a long time, and now he would finally get a look inside.

But a sliver of unease remained in his heart.

After all, Li Qingye had said he required absolute loyalty, which worried Chen Jianxiong. To demand a person’s absolute loyalty—what a difficult thing that was.

But he had already come this far. Chen Jianxiong knew there was no turning back now. He had just learned too much; walking away unscathed was out of the question.